UP to 50 fire fighters were this evening (April 24) continuing to tackle a blaze at a Birmingham factory.

Fire crews were called to factory premises at an industrial estate on Wharfdale Road, Tyseley, at 1.45pm.

The fire involves around 1,000 pallets which are alight, sending a plume of black smoke billowing into the skies.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said 10 fire engines and a hydraulic platform had been sent to the scene of the blaze.

Workers at neighbouring factories have been evacuated as a precaution, and fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus are making progress tackling the large blaze.

The spokesman said: “At 13:45 on Tuesday afternoon fire control received several calls to reports of a large fire at a factory at Wharfdale Road, Tyseley, Birmingham.

"Crews from Hay Mills and Highgate Community Fire Stations were on the scene within minutes and quickly requested additional resources including nine further fire engines and a hydraulic platform.

“The incident involves approximately 1000 square metres of wooden pallets on fire severely within the yard of an industrial complex and an adjacent factory, measuring approximately 100 metres by 150 metres.”